Stand-up comedy has recently been coming into its own with young audiences and the comedians behind the jokes now all have a unique opportunity to influence young viewers. Comedy has historically been a male-dominated field, but ever since women like Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore paved the way, more women have been entering comedy and taking the industry by storm.

In order to be successful, comedy has to straddle the line between funny and offensive. Discussing controversial subject matters and making fun of them is in the job description. Female comedians do this all the time with women’s issues and feminism. There are many aspects of feminism that are controversial in society, but female comedians like Tina Fey and Iliza Schlesinger are using their platforms to start conversations about women’s issues and to empower women in a way that is unique. Senior Emily Gardner talked about why she finds Iliza Schlesinger so compelling.

“I love her and just how empowered she is,” Gardner said. “She’s so confident in everything she talks about. She’s putting all these issues out there and she’s putting all these topics out there that other people don’t want to talk about.”

Gardner went on to discuss why Schlesinger’s confidence is so important to her message.

“Because she talks about it so confidently and openly and she’s not willing to let other people tear her down for that, it creates that strong base for other people to take a stand [on women’s issues],” Gardner said.

Because of their rising prominence in the mainstream, female comedians have a growing sphere of influence, especially with teen and young adult audiences. Senior Grace Hellen discussed why it is important for women in comedy to promote feminism with their platforms.

“[Female] comedians should definitely be using their platform to promote feminism because it shows that women can be funny and can play an influential role in media, television, radio and social media,” Hellen said. “I think it is beneficial because it’s allowing like girls who don’t think that they can [have a career in comedy] to have that role model in their lives.”

Female comedians do not only serve as an inspiration to aspiring comedians. They also call attention to women’s issues that need to be discussed, no matter how uncomfortable. They allow young women to become empowered and comfortable with who they are, and they do it with an abundance of wit and charm.